Personalized, Effective Whole-Home Surge Protection
Updates to the NEC affect builders constructing new homes, but you are not legally required to add whole-home surge protection to an existing home. That said, it’s a worthwhile consideration for all homeowners. Surge protector installation will make your home safer and more future-proof. If you ever need electrical work requiring a permit, it likely will be a requirement then.
Another common question concerns how the various types differ and why the NEC only requires Type 2. A Type 2 surge protection device (SPD) operates between the electrical panel and the rest of the home’s electrical system. It protects against indirect lightning strikes, which are the most common form. A Type 2 SPD also protects against surges and spikes that originate within the home.
A Type 1 SPD functions outside the home between the electrical panel and power lines. It protects against direct lightning strikes and anomalous grid power. These events are uncommon, which is why the NEC doesn’t require them. Still, when they occur, they can be devastating. That’s why many homeowners opt to install both Type 1 and Type 2 SPDs.
What about a Type 3 house surge protector? Type 3 SPDs are local protectors, such as the surge protection strip you plug your computer into. There are options for Type 3 whole-home surge protection. You can, for instance, install outlets with integrated Type 3 SPDs. That lets you use your outlets without a separate surge protector.
A house surge protector protects against many different electric surges:
- Short circuits
- Lightning strikes
- Standby generators
- Blown transformers
- High-drain home appliances